FBI will no longer investigate ICE confrontations, The New York Times reports

Reports indicate a major shift in federal oversight protocols regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to information surfaced by The New York Times, agents within the Department of Homeland Security have received notification that the FBI will no longer lead investigations into assault claims involving ICE personnel. Previously, the FBI handled these cases to determine if agents were under threat before discharging their weapons.

The change in policy suggests that internal investigations will shift to Homeland Security Investigations, a branch under the ICE umbrella. Critics argue that this transition may reduce external accountability. Because the Department of Homeland Security lacks jurisdiction over federal civil rights violations, the ability to prosecute agents for misconduct could diminish under this new guidance.

Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have issued a joint statement denying these claims. They maintain that the partnership between the two agencies regarding investigations into assaults on federal officers remains unchanged. Officials emphasize that the FBI continues to investigate these matters in accordance with current agency policy.

This development follows a series of recent incidents involving ICE agents. Earlier this month, an agent shot and killed a Colombian man in Maine. This incident marks at least the seventh individual shot by ICE agents since the start of 2025. As scrutiny over federal law enforcement conduct increases, the potential for internal versus external oversight remains a central point of debate.